Photoshelter: worth it?

e-person · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 11:41 AM

I am uploading to Photoshelter and I am frankly loosing hope.

I have got about 120 photos online, and 3 views is my top, so far. Also, I get accepted completely silly photos and rejected most of my best ones. It looks to me as if inspectors are rejecting photos based even on their food taste, as they consistently reject a certain type of food. Frankly, I have even understood what type of people are running the site and they are not the type of people I would hang out in real life with. Can't say more, it would probably be illegal.

That said, what is your experience? It looks like another waste of time to me.

So far only SS and IS are consistently working for me, and IS is really getting better day after day. You know, if it keeps that way, I hate to admit it, I will have to go exclusive with IS. :-)

sjlocke · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 12:17 PM

They rejected 9 out of 10 of my initial submissions because they were too "posed", which tells me my current shooting style doesn't mesh with them. So, there they sit, taking snapshots from others.

Frame · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 01:17 PM

So many of these we see!
A lot of effort and little reward!

orchidpoet · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 01:46 PM

I don't submit to Photoshelter so my comments will not be specific. I have stopped uploading to new sites if the initial results are not very hopeful, even though they might be promising to others. You only have so many hours in your life and it's better to use your time wisely and constructively.

Karimala · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 03:31 PM

I'm approaching Photoshelter and Alamy much differently than the micros. The macros are part of my long-term strategy.

No sales yet, but I'm not expecting much anyway until I get the majority of my portfolio online (only 87 live with almost 400 to disambiguate, 78% acceptance rate, 10% editor's choice). They are also still less than a year old, too, and I have no idea how sales were on their select site prior to the launch. All I know is the select site is highly respected in the industry, and a lot of big names use it, so that gives me hope for the future.

e-person · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karimala

I'm approaching Photoshelter and Alamy much differently than the micros. The macros are part of my long-term strategy.

No sales yet, but I'm not expecting much anyway until I get the majority of my portfolio online (only 87 live with almost 400 to disambiguate, 78% acceptance rate, 10% editor's choice). They are also still less than a year old, too, and I have no idea how sales were on their select site prior to the launch. All I know is the select site is highly respected in the industry, and a lot of big names use it, so that gives me hope for the future.

I also submit most RM photos and some RF material, to them. I have got about 53% approval rate, 0.89% editor choice (one) and had to delete a few RF photos they have decided to change to news+, which is RM and would only cause trouble.

I love RM and I understand they do have the right to refuse photos. What I don't understand is when they refuse photos by subject. Not that we are talking flowers, or sunsets, because they accept those!

Oh well, I will try to resist the temptation do delete my portfolio and give them a few more months. Sorry for the rant.

sharpshot · #7 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 08:25 PM

I started uploading to Photoshelter but I will wait now until I see posts about sales there. It takes all my time to upload to the micros and alamy. When I have 500 on alamy, I will look at other RM sites.

e-person · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 10:33 PM

I am going to upload photos of droppings. I am curious to see if they prefere that to my food ones.

nativelight · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-person

I am going to upload photos of droppings. I am curious to see if they prefere that to my food ones.

Just be sure to choose a weird angle, use your built-in flash and be sure to vignette heavily! lol

I am uploading mostly RM to PSC. I've had zero sales and one comp download. I have an 81% acceptance rate with no ECs. My acceptance rate surprises me because I don't shoot any of the stuff they consider contemporary. Whether or not they're worth it remains to be seen. I started uploading to them, Alamy and MyLoupe all about the same time. I've had zero sales with any of them yet, but I'm still hopeful. My micro sales have suffered though because I'm neglecting them in favor of uploading to macro. But, like Karen, I consider the midstocks more of a long term investment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

PecoFoto · #10 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-person

I am going to upload photos of droppings. I am curious to see if they prefere that to my food ones.

Too late...

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